Several years ago, the city began developing a plan to build a landfill-powered greenhouse that would help lessen the region's dependence on imported produce, provide fresh, locally grown food for pantries and create jobs and educational opportunities for colleges and the community.

In 2016, the city tried and failed to find a partner to make the greenhouse a reality.

Now, with a more open-ended request for proposals, the city is trying again.

This time, it appears that at least one developer is excited about the opportunity and has already invested considerable time and effort into formulating a proposal.

On Friday, representatives from Green Circle Projects shared a vision of creating a greenhouse that's a hub of learning and innovation, shared by aspiring farmers and seasoned agriculturalists alike.

Mike Chiles with Green Circle Projects described an ambitious plan that involves local colleges, hospitals, government and businesses working together to make Springfield a leader in agriculture education and technology.

"Let's make this a model of agricultural success," Chiles said. "A model we can use to promote our area and to benefit other communities around the country."

Representatives from Green Circle Projects, Custom Metalcraft, Republic Services, Missouri State University, the city of Springfield and City Utilities attended a mandatory pre-proposal meeting on Friday morning.

Anyone interested in partnering with the city was required to be there. Green Circle Projects was the only business that publicly shared its intention to submit a proposal.

What does the city want?

The city is asking the proposals to meet a series of overarching goals. Specifics of the projects, including the size of the greenhouse, are up to the developers to decide, according to Erick Roberts, superintendent of solid waste with the city of Springfield.

Use waste heat from the Noble Hill Renewable Energy Center, including back-up heat source, in one or more greenhouses. Noble Hill, which opened in 2006, takes methane gas from the landfill and converts it to electricity for City Utilities customers. The engines that burn the gas for electricity put off heat.

Provide locally grown, fresh produce for local and regional markets, to reduce the region's dependency on imported food. According to Roberts, more than 90 percent of the food in the community is currently imported from outside the region.

Create education, research and job training opportunities for area residents and local schools.

Give food pantries much needed local, healthy produce.

Create jobs and business opportunities by recruiting Springfield-area partners and job seekers to manage and staff the new facility.

Provide satisfactory terms for land lease rates, purchase of waste heat and other utilities.

Provide other innovative uses of the project site and other community benefits.

Proposals are due Nov. 30. Roberts said he expects the city to select a developer in "really early 2019."

Green Circle Projects' vision

Chiles said the greenhouse project can help train the next generation of farmers.

Rows of tomato plants line the Perfect Circle greenhouse in Lake Mills, Iowa. It also uses excess heat from a landfill to power its operation. Springfield city officials visited the greenhouse in 2013.(Photo: City of Springfield)

"This is an opportunity for many young people who want to get into farming, who want to pursue a course that involves living outside of cubicles," Chiles said. "Right now, unless you live on a farm, or grow up on a farm, there is almost an insurmountable barrier of young people wanting to be farmers."

In addition to young people, Chiles said Green Circle Projects will make a "special outreach to veterans, people who have been historically discriminated against in agriculture, immigrants and non-traditional students."

"This is to give people a second chance at life who just haven't found their niche," he said.

Plan to work with local schools and farmers

Chiles said they intend to use a two-pronged approach.

First, they'll work with local schools, such as Missouri State University, to create training programs and degrees. MSU has already started paperwork to create two courses that would result in a certificate in agriculture, Chiles said.

Secondly, they'll use a tech accelerator model to give beginner farmers the ability to lease portions of the facilities with a low starting cost. They will work with experienced mentors on staff.

Chiles emphasized that the greenhouse doesn't plan to compete with grocery stores, which already have established relationships with local farmers.

"The one untapped market for local and regional food that has not been satisfied is the institutional market," Chiles said, listing off MSU, Ozarks Technical Community College, the Springfield school district, Mercy Hospital and CoxHealth.

"Those large institutions require supplies of year-round food, particularly during the winter," he said. "...Right now, virtually all their food is coming from Mexico, California, Florida and even Europe. Surely with the right people we can grow bell peppers here and we can compete with the peppers being air-freighted in from Holland."

Matt O'Reilly, director of Green Circle Projects, emphasized that the project isn't meant to compete with local farmers.

He intends to make it easy for farmers to lease portions of the greenhouse if they want to extend their production or growing season. They will also have chances to participate in training.

"It's an opportunity for farmers to expand their operations and expand their trade," O'Reilly said. "...It's not about overalls and a pitchfork. Farmers can be technologists."

He said one goal is to make sure the project is sustainable and replicable.

"We see it as an opportunity for Springfield to be a leader in the Midwest," O'Reilly said.

Chiles said Green Circle Projects will be asking the city for "favorable terms," a long-term lease and some type of power purchase agreement with City Utilities.

Errin Kemper, director of environmental services, expressed interest in what he heard from Green Circle Projects.

"We see a lot of potential here, so we're excited to see that proposal," he said.